NEW: Assassin’s Creed Shadows Lead Said Shrine Destruction ‘Hurt Her Heart’

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Since its launch on March 20th, Assassin’s Creed Shadows has been captivating players everywhere, earning the title of a franchise rejuvenation after selling millions of copies in mere weeks. The game’s stunning open-world setting, combined with an engaging narrative and exceptional mechanics, leaves fans optimistic about its future direction.

Recently, I had a delightful chat with Masumi, the gifted actor who brought Naoe, the female lead in the game, to life. She’s one of Assassin’s Creed’s most memorable characters in quite some time. During our conversation, we delved into several contentious issues from the game, including the ongoing ‘shrine destruction’ controversy.

Here’s the full video version of the interview:

‘It’s Just Not Authentic’

I ran into Masumi during the BAFTA Games Awards in London, one of the top events honoring accomplishments in the gaming industry worldwide. Although Masumi wasn’t nominated for an award, she was hosting the event, and I seized the chance to chat with her about Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

In our chat, we shifted towards the portrayal of Japanese culture within Shadows, a topic that stirred controversy before its release. As a Japanese-American actor playing a significant role in the game, I was intrigued to understand Masumi’s views on some challenging themes in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

For me, as a Japanese Naoe, I’m satisfied with my job, with what I was able to portray.

Growing up as Japanese, we’re accustomed to revering shrines and sacred mirrors, so seeing them destructible in the game feels a bit disheartening. It’s like a small pain in my heart.

In the game, there are actions you can perform that would be impossible in real-life Japan, and it’s disconcerting for me because these actions don’t feel authentic or genuine.

Following the debut of the game, Ubisoft updated it to no longer allow players to demolish shrines. This adjustment was made following discussions within Japan’s parliament regarding such scenes, as they expressed worry about potential imitations of these incidents occurring throughout the country.

I find it hard to believe that the main actress of this game could be surprised by an element so crucial, given that she’s invested over two years of her time in its production. It quickly becomes apparent that Ubisoft might have erred significantly by permitting players to demolish these revered shrines within the game.

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2025-04-09 18:18